Greenville Equine Veterinary Services

Greenville Equine Veterinary Services Greenville Equine Veterinary Services is a mobile equine veterinary practice based in Greenville, SC

Dr. Kate Williams is originally from Durham, Connecticut where her love for horses started at a young age. She has an extensive western performance background and grew up competing in regional barrel racing events. She attended undergraduate at Clemson University where she received her Bachelors Degree in Animal & Veterinary Sciences in 2018. Dr. Kate earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022 and pursued advanced training through an equine veterinary internship at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Salado, Texas. After her one-year internship, Dr. Kate moved back to the southeast and established Greenville Equine Veterinary Services, a mobile equine practice based in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Kate is a proficient and versatile equine veterinarian who provides services that encompass all aspects of equine practice. She has a special interest in equine sports medicine and lameness and is committed to improving equine performance and promoting the longevity of horse's athletic careers.
‍
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Kate enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her fiance, Ryan. The two first met approximately nine years ago while attending Clemson University, and their wedding date is set for May 25th, 2024 in Charleston, SC. You can also find Dr. Kate at the barn enjoying the company of her Appendix Quarter Horse mare, Remy (due to foal March 2024), or exploring the great outdoors with her Australian Shepherd, Brody.

08/28/2025

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF PROUD FLESH? 🔎

Wounds on the bodies and limbs of our equine companions are exceptionally common. In particular, wounds on lower limbs can be especially difficult to manage. There is little extra skin in these areas, making large wounds difficult to close via suturing.

In addition, wounds on the lower legs are contaminated easily with bacteria since they are closer to the ground, bedding, and manure. The constant movement of an animal's legs as it walks, turns, and bears weight can also greatly impair healing, especially if the wound occurs over a joint. All of these factors can often halt the normal progression of the healing process and result in a chronic wound.

Persistent inflammation, along with infection, is a major contributor to exuberant granulation tissue (or proud flesh) formation in a wound. Proud flesh is not conducive to wound healing as it prevents the wound from epithelializing (the process of the skin cells covering the wound), and sometimes it can become so large that it appears to be a tumor, usually obliterating the original wound.

Prevention of proud flesh involves good wound management. For the best healing, wounds should be identified and treated quickly and properly — especially on the lower limbs. Consult your veterinarian about any wounds that appear deep or extensive, that lie over important structures (like joints and tendons), or that already show signs of proud flesh development. Rather than waste time and money in trials and errors that could delay your equid's healing, ask your veterinarian what products are best for your situation.

08/19/2025

Here's some interesting information about Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) from our friends at Rhinebeck Equine. Have you heard about this condition before? Let us know in the comments below!

"💪🏼 Last week, we discussed Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER) aka tying-up. We mentioned that PSSM (Polysaccharide storage myopathy) is associated with genetic susceptibility of ER.

💪🏼 What is PSSM?
PSSM is a disorder that causes muscle soreness and tying up in horses from abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. The two types of PSSM are Type 1 and Type 2.

♦️ PSSM Type 1 is caused by a mutation in the GYS1 gene (glycogen synthase 1). The mutation causes muscle cells to produce glycogen continually. PSSM Type 1 is more commonly observed in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas and draft breeds; however, it has been documented in 20 breeds.

♦️ PSSM Type 2 occurs without genetic mutation yet results in abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. It is still unknown the exact cause of PSSM Type 2. PSSM Type 2 is more common in warmbloods, but it has been linked to other breeds.

🩺 What are the clinical signs?
Sweating, lameness, sore muscles, weakness, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors that may occur with or without exercise. Not all horses will exhibit severe clinical signs.

🥼 How do we test for PSSM Type 1 and 2?
Testing for PSSM Type 1 requires hair samples with the roots attached to test for the GYS1 variant. Testing for PSSM Type 2 requires a muscle biopsy.

🩸 Additional testing of insulin may be warranted due to PSSM Type 1 horses are commonly more sensitive to it. Insulin causes the GYS1 gene to produce more glycogen.

💪🏼 How do we treat PSSM once diagnosis is made?
Diet and regular exercise are crucial to managing these horses. Often these horses are on a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) grass hay and a ration balancer. However, each horse is an individual and may need more calories which can be achieved by adding a low-NSC or high fat feed. Additional supportive care may be necessary during an active episode of tying up.

🤔 What is the prognosis?
Sadly, there’s no cure, but with dietary and exercise management horses can do well and reduce the frequency of active tying-up episodes."

If you have any concerns about your horse exhibiting signs of PSSM Type 1 or 2, talk to your veterinarian.

📸: Dr. Laura Javsicas, ACVIM, performing a muscle biopsy.

Welcome to our new veterinary technician, Sydney! 🐴Hi, I’m Sydney Billings! I was born and raised in the Upstate of Sout...
08/08/2025

Welcome to our new veterinary technician, Sydney! 🐴

Hi, I’m Sydney Billings! I was born and raised in the Upstate of South Carolina, where I spent much of my time outdoors—especially in the saddle. My passion for horses led me to pursue over two years of hands-on experience in equine veterinary medicine, and I’m deeply committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to both horses and their people.
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me with my thoroughbred mare, spending time with my husband and our dogs & cat, or on the hunt for my next favorite coffee spot. I’m incredibly excited to be part of the team at Greenville Equine and to serve the equine community that means so much to me.

08/07/2025

As temperatures and bug populations remain high, it is critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information and learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93phleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR4LQFqAZgJ-l6okRNSB5gb3W22O2wch3hTNfUrdWkYu5vr4vsPs5dO8_fchtg_aem_AJ5BEuDhbfiGxQTJgInt4A

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93rRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR53Fr5KFEMaKqGIwpZV4z428WzO0A1N4K8_PoKQ6D4QKlzJqNkHJ6YDd6qnqg_aem_fitQxeORLIU_v3AW-kzK1Q

Thank you Steele Horsemanship and Farriery for collaborating with me on this case! 🐴
07/26/2025

Thank you Steele Horsemanship and Farriery for collaborating with me on this case! 🐴

07/26/2025

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in. The swelling will be extreme, hot, very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your equine practitioner will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

06/27/2025

As a large portion of the country continues to experience extreme heat, it's imperative that horse owners do their due diligence to keep their horses safe and healthy during heat waves.

One of the side effects of the heat for some horses is the inability to sweat properly. This condition, called anhidrosis, is potentially dangerous for horses because it compromises their ability to thermoregulate even in weather that doesn’t seem that hot, and therefore puts them at higher risk of heat stress.

Anhidrosis is not fully understood yet; it is widespread in the hot and humid regions of the southeastern United States and the Gulf states, but it is also widely reported elsewhere during the summer and particularly during heat waves. If your horse has a high respiratory rate and does not seem to tolerate turnout on hot days, be sure to discuss it with your veterinarian.

Remember that administering unnecessary medications without consulting your horse doctor first could do more harm than good, as it puts your equine friend at risk of developing harmful side effects!

06/25/2025

Happy first day of summer! ☀️

As the temperatures heat up, unfortunately some of our equine friends struggle to sweat properly in the summer heat, which can put them at an increased risk of heat stress.

Though there is limited evidence in regard to effective treatments for horses diagnosed with anhidrosis (the inability to sweat properly), there are a few therapies that have been proposed to help, including offering horses dark beer!

Overall, watch closely for signs of heat stress if your horse is diagnosed with anhidrosis. During the summer months, monitor your horse's response to the heat and ensure they are sweating an appropriate amount. If you have concerns about your horse's ability to sweat, please contact your veterinarian.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/10/2025

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

04/30/2025

Here's another great question that was posed on our recent "Ask the AAEP Horse Doctors" post:

Are oral supplements better than joint injections?

Anything you give to your horse needs to be carefully evaluated for if it lives up to the claims it is making.

Oral supplements are not required to have studies that prove their marketing claims. That being said, some companies have invested in outside research and can provide you with peer-reviewed published research.

Products approved by the FDA (including some injectable joint medications) have to prove safety and effectiveness and can only market based on proven claims. There are many injectable products that are not FDA approved, however, so they should also be questioned for research on safety and effectiveness.

Make sure you are spending your money on a product that is backed by research as there are a lot of unproven options out there.

Before starting any supplement or medication, it is important to know what change you expect to see. It's recommended to evaluate your horse before you start and then again after 30 days. Do you see the change that the product said you would? If yes, continue on. If no, it's time to work with your veterinarian and decide on a potential new plan.

04/18/2025

The more you know...

Gastric ulcer disease is a very common problem in equines, and it affects over 60% of adult horses (depending on age, performance, and evaluated populations). While Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is more prevalent in high performance horses, it's important to remember that any horse can be affected, as all equines suffer from stress (like traveling, stall confinement, changes in diet, etc.) which over time may result in gastric ulcers.

The signs of ulcers a horse might show are highly variable between individuals, but they usually include variations of "bad behavior" like general grumpiness, reluctance to perform, cribbing and teeth-grinding, tail-swishing and other behaviors suggesting restlessness and physical discomfort. Rough hair coat, weight loss and poor body condition are also common.

Has your horse ever expressed any of these signs that led to an ulcer diagnosis? Let us know below ⬇️

If your horse is exhibiting any of these signs, it may be time to consult your veterinarian rather than just chalk them off as behavioral or training issues. Proper diagnosis is crucial to get appropriate treatment started promptly, and your horse doctor will also be able to make recommendations for environmental and management changes that can you help prevent a relapse of ulcers in the future.

04/03/2025

Equine dental health is not only crucial for keeping your equine companion's pearly whites healthy but also for the overall health of the animal in general.

Common dental issues such as the ones mentioned in the graphic can negatively affect the health of the teeth themselves as well as gum, gastrointestinal, and overall mouth health. Dental issues can also impact chewing and food grinding, further exacerbating digestive tract issues.

Has your horse struggled with any of these dental issues before? Let us know below ⬇️

As always, if you have questions or concerns about your horse's dental health, contact your equine veterinarian.

Address

Greenville, SC

Telephone

+18646916096

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Greenville Equine Veterinary Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Greenville Equine Veterinary Services:

Shortcuts

Share

Category